Page 72 of The Groupie

Zak

Spending my Allstar-Break in Boston by myself was not the plan, but as I get off the plane from Utah, I pull my ball cap down and head for the exit. It’s bad enough I didn’t make the all-star team this year, but I thought I was making lemonade from lemons by going to Park City to sweep Rylee off her feet. Now? I’m dejected and pissed and heading for a taxi cab like I plan to hijack it.

Maybe my pipsqueak sister is right about my ego. Too big and, it turns out, unjustified. I get in a cab and when the driver asks, “Where to?” I hesitate because I don’t know where I want to go. The last thing I want to do is spend time at my condo with Nowicki and Suzie. And if they’re not there, I don’t like the idea of being alone because I’m not good company for myself right now. This is an occasion to inflict my misery on someone else if ever there was one.

“The Tea Party. Canal Street in Boston.” The cabbie nods at me in the rearview and we take off.

When I get there, I jog around the building and come in the rear exit. I know my teammates and the groupies will be sitting in the back and that’s where I find them. I slide into the end of one of the two adjoining booths with a small crowd and give a nod to Finn at the other end.

Sheila, her friends and a few other non-all-star team members are pounding beers and playing table hockey with wadded up napkins and their thumbs.

“Look who’s here,” Sheila says to no one in particular. Then her smile fades and she lowers her voice. “You don’t look happy. You definitely should have made the second all-star—”

“Fuck the all-star team.” I almost snarl at her, but I immediately regret it. “Sorry, don’t mind me.”

“I’d ask if your puppy died, but I know you don’t have one. Not unless you count Nowicki as a puppy.”

I snort a laugh at that. “Where is Nowicki?”

“He went home with Suzie a few minutes ago. She’s a real cutie. I like her.”

I nod and congratulate myself on making the right choice to come here. The only right choice I’ve made recently.

“What’s wrong, Zak.” She leans in and whispers. “Is this about Rylee? I hear she left to go back to Park City.”

My head snaps up. “You knew? Am I the only fucking person she didn’t bother telling?”

“Oh.” Sheila’s face goes soft and her eyes droop in sad companionship. “I’m sorry, honey.” She pushes one of the two bottles of beer in front of her over to me. “You need this more than I do.”

Picking up the bottle of beer, I take a swig. I’d rather have a bottle of whisky right now but beggars can’t be choosers and I’m not gone enough to start making choices that will demolish my hockey career. It’s the only thing I have going for me right now, right?

Plus my family. While I’m uselessly trying to drown my problems in beer, Sheila is busy talking to her friends in whispers. They glance at me and nod. Great. She’s telling everyone I’m a pathetic loser.

One of the ladies comes around to give me a hug. “Don’t be sad, Zak, we still love you.” It’s really a sweet gesture, so I can’t complain, but I don’t hug her back or invite her to sit on my lap like I would have a few weeks ago. Sheila takes some photos.

“What are you up to?”

“I’m posting these on social media. We’ll have you fixed up with a new girl in no time.”

“Shit. That’s the last thing I need, Sheila. I appreciate the effort, but—”

“No worries, Zak honey. I’m sending the pic to Candice—”

“Why?”

“Because she likes you and—”

“And I’m not into her. At all.”

She sighs. “I know. Right now you’re only into Rylee. But that won’t last. You’ll get over her. I promise.” She rubs my back and tries really hard to make a dent in the dark nasty feeling I have in the pit of my stomach that I won’t get over Rylee any time soon because maybe I don’t want to get over her. I want to fucking win her over. I know she’s hurting right now and that deep down, way deep down, she’s really into me. I think she might be falling for me and it scares the shit out of her.

I know the feeling well and can’t blame her for being scared. It’s terrifying to feel so vulnerable and so out of control, like your life has been taken over by someone else. Getting up from my seat, I go down to the other end of the table to talk to a few of the guys.

Candice Montgomery shows up and she and Sheila come over and surround me.

“Can I buy you a drink, big guy?” Candice says, putting a hand on my back. “I hear you need consoling.”

“Hello Candice. I’m fine. I’m going to take off after I finish this beer.”